Macular hole
Retinal detachment A macular hole isa small gap that opens up at the centre of the retina,in an area called the macula.
The retina is the light-sensitive film at the back of the eye. Inthe centre isthe macula the part responsible for central andfine detail vision needed for tasks such as reading.
In the early stages, a macular hole can cause blurred and distorted vision. Straight lines may look wavy or bowed, and you may have trouble reading small print.
After a while, you may see a small black patch or a "missing patch" in the centre of your vision. You won't feel any pain and the condition doesn't lead to a total loss of sight.
Surgery is usually needed to repair the hole (see below). This is often successful, but you need to be aware of the possible complications of treatment. Your vision will never completely return to normal, but it's usually improved by having surgery.
A macular hole is a small gap that opens up at the centre of the retina in the macula. It causes blurred and distorted vision, and can be treated with surgery.
We don't know why macular holes develop. The vast majority of cases happen spontaneously (without an obvious cause). They most often affect people aged 60-80, and are twice as common in women as men.
If you have blurred or distorted vision, or there's a black spot in the centre of your vision, see your GP or optician as soon as possible. You'll probably be referred to an ophthalmologist (a special
Vitrectomy surgery A macular hole can often be repaired using an operation called a vitrectomy, withinner limiting membrane (ILM) peel and gas. If you've had the hole for less than a year, there's a
Macular hole surgery is a form of keyhole surgery performed under a microscope. Three small incisions (one millimetre in size) are made in the white of the eye and very fine instruments are inserted.
Temporary poor vision With the gas in place, the vision in your eye will be very poor a bit like having your eye open under water. Your balance will be affected and you'll have trouble judging dista
Once at home, you may have to spend several hours during the day with your head held still and in a specific position, called posturing. The aim of lying or sitting face down is to keep the gas bubbl
You must not fly or travel to high altitude on land while the gas bubble is still in your eye (up to 12 weeks after surgery). If you ignore this, the bubble will expand at altitude, causing very high
Ifyou need a general anaesthetic while the gas is still in your eye, it's vital you tell the anaesthetist, so they can avoid certain anaesthetic agents that can cause expansion of the bubble.
No the gas bubble will still be present in your eye for six to eight weeks after your surgery, so during this time you can't drive a vehicle of any sort. None of these exclusions apply once the gas h
Most people will need at least two weeks off work, although this will depend to an extent on the type of work you do and the speed of recovery. Discuss thiswith your surgeon.
It's unlikely that you'll suffer harmful effects from a macular hole operation. However, you should be aware of these six possible complications: Failure of the hole to close. This happens in 1-2
The most important factor in predicting whether the hole closes as a result of surgery is the length of time the hole has been present. If you've had a holefor less than six months, there's about a90
After carefully examining your other eye, your surgeon should be able to tell youthe risk of developing a macular hole in this eye. In some people this is extremely unlikely, in othersthere's a1 in 1